Memphis student sits on panel at national conference

2008-02-26T23:13:34Z

A Memphis student's love of politics earned him a trip to Washington D.C. last weekend.

While in the nation's capital, Kirby High School junior Darron Boyce sat on a panel with some of the biggest names in civil rights. It was all part of the State of the Black Union conference, organized by syndicated broadcaster Tavis Smiley.

Boyce was the youngest panelist at the conference, which was his second time to work with Smiley.

Last year, Boyce attended Democratic debates in Washington after his aunt wrote Smiley asking if the famous broadcaster could help them get tickets to the event.

"We were sitting in the front row. We got VIP treatment and we had a blast," Boyce said.

Last week's State of the Black Union conference was broadcast on C-SPAN. Boyce used his time to talk about the work he's done at school and with his family to encourage young people to vote.

"We often take voting for granted. But we don't realize how our ancestors and leaders of the civil rights movement...what they did and what they gave up to vote," Boyce said.

Boyce said he enjoyed the national spotlight, which he saw as inspiration to work harder.

Boyce said he became interested in politics after an aunt encouraged him and several other cousins to write reports on politics and the privilege of voting.

(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File). FILE - In this May 22, 2018 file photo, actor Morgan Freeman attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala in New York. Freeman is apologizing to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behavior....

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>